Featured Database

An online collection of books about the Americas published 1500-1926 and covering history, social and political issues, science, religion, slavery, emmigration, women, and many, many other subjects. Based on the Bibliotheca Americana compiled by Joseph Sabin (begun in 1868) and augmented by the work of others, this complements Early American Imprints (books printed in North America, EEBO and ECCO (books printed in England or English 1475-1800), and the American Periodical Series Online.

Walter Havighurst Special Collections Current Exhibit

Stories from people who were children during World War II and the objects in this exhibit animate the past and inform us of a time when war took over daily life. “Retrospect is a very interesting thing,” says Ruthie Kallnder. “At the time I don’t recall any of the information we got as being propaganda,” but the government tried to influence children to make “necessary” sacrifices. Propagandists made the war a battle between good and evil, democracy and fascism. They also asked children to share in the war effort. In response, many children took on more responsibilities. Ruthie explains that boys and girls felt “if that’s what it was going to take” to win they “were willing to do it.” The memories of the people in this exhibit and their wartime actions show the power of propaganda’s messages and its lasting affect on their lives. Propaganda posters, children’s books, and classroom assignments demonstrate how propagandists reached children and involved them in the national war effort.